Week 6 Notes & Observations

G5 Notes

• Tulane:  If you have RB Cameron Carroll on your roster, Thursday night’s numbers at Houston were disappointing, but he did lead the team with 18 carries, so don’t hit the panic button. 
• Houston:  Kyle Porter led the team in rushing against Tulane, but I would prefer to have Mulbah Car, who seemed to have rolled his ankle and left the game after scoring two rushing TDs.  WR Keith Corbin’s final numbers do not reflect his potential, as he had a 30-yard pass slip through his hands inside the 5 yard line that could have resulted in a TD.  Corbin is a hold for me after one game.
• UL Monroe:  On the podcast, I warned RB Josh Johnson’s fantasy owners that last week’s 3-TD game against Georgia Southern was a smokescreen.  The offense looks really bad, and in five games, Johnson has totaled 199 rushing yards, a 39.8 ypg average.
• Liberty: HC Hugh Freeze’s post-game interview addressed RB Joshua Mack’s utilization against UL Monroe.  Mack was the third back into the game and Freeze’s comments suggest there were disciplinary actions taken. 
• UTSA:  WR Zakhari Franklin has now caught at least six passes and a TD in two of three games this year. 
• Troy:  The Trojans have one the deepest group of receivers of all G5 teams, but it’s difficult to identify a clear-cut WR1 because QB Gunnar Watson like to spread the ball around.  Against Texas State, Watson completed 33-of-46 passes for 338 yards and 4 TDs.  RB BJ Smith only had seven rushing attempts for 13 yards and a TD against the Bobcats, so I am a bit concerned about using him in next week’s game against Eastern Kentucky.
• Arkansas State:  QBs Logan Bonner and Layne Hatcher each threw 3 TD passes in a win over Central Arkansas.  I have mentioned several times that I believe the two will rotate for most of the season, so I do not feel the need to address the situation again unless something changes. 
• Middle Tennessee:  QB Asher O’Hara has rushed for at least 90 yards and a TD in back-to-back games and has at lest 21 rushing attempts in three straight games.
• Florida International:  I know that FIU has only played two games, but I would not be holding WR JJ Holloman.  The Panthers’ quarterbacks are a combined 19-of-41 for 194 yards.  RB D’Vonte Price has started the year with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games.  Price has 260 rushing yards on 26 carries, averaging 10.0 yards per carry.
• East Carolina: WR CJ Johnson caught 3 passes for 99 yards and 2 TDs in the Pirates’ 44-24 win at South Florida.  However, I am not convinced he will be consistent moving forward.  ECU may struggle to win another game.  Now might be the time to sell high if you want to use him as a bargaining chip in a trade.
• South Florida:  Looking at the Bulls’ future schedule, I do not think they will be fantasy relevant for the remainder of the 2020 season.
• Louisiana Tech: I was hoping for more from RB Justin Henderson, who ran for 54 yards and a TD in the Bulldogs’ 21-17 win.  Teammate Isaiah Tucker had 47 yards and two TDs.  I am not hopeful for next week’s game at Marshall, and I will be sure to touch on Henderson and the Marshall game on the podcast this week. 
• Marshall: Looking at the Thundering Herd schedule, I cannot see a loss, which means big weeks for RB Brenden Knox.  I can envision 100-plus yards and at least one TD in every game.
• Western Kentucky: WR Dayton Wade has caught at least seven passes in back-to-back games and WR Xavier Lane has topped the 70-yard mark in each of the last two games, but with the way the Hilltoppers have looked offensively, I do not want any part of their offense.  In my opinion, sophomore quarterback Kevaris Thomas should start the remaining games of the 2020 season.  Thomas replaced Pigrome and completed 9-of-18 passes for 148 yards and a TD, and also scored a rushing TD. 
• Charlotte:  If you have RB Tre Harbison on your roster, it must have been hard to watch Aaron McAllister rip through the North Texas defense.  Not only did Harbison’s night pale in comparison to McAllister’s, but now I am wondering if he will replace Harbison atop the depth chart.  Unfortunately, we may not really know until next weekend.  One week after catching 9 passes for 118 yards and a TD, WR Victor Tucker only caught one pass for 36 yards against North Texas.
• North Texas:  In the Mean Geen’s 49-21 loss to Charlotte, WR Jaelon Darden was targeted 19 times and caught 13 passes for 244 yards and 3 TDs.  He was targeted on 44% of QB Austin Aune’s pass attempts (43). 

P5 Notes

• Louisville: WR Tutu Atwell was targeted 13 times against Georgia Tech, but only caught six passes for 52 yards and a TD.  My biggest takeaway about Louisville is that you want to have players going against them.  Your Notre Dame players are must-starts next week.
• Georgia Tech: Freshman RB Jahmyr Gibbs has been very impressive, but I do think that Jordan Mason’s return will affect his workload, if and when that happens.  For now, Gibbs is looking like a must-start every week.
• Florida:  The Gators backfield continues to be a ‘stay away’.  WR Kadarius Toney has at least 5 catches and a TD in all three games this year. 
• Texas A&M: WR Caleb Chapman caught 9 passes for 151 yards and 2 TDs in the Aggies win over Florida.  The 6-foot-5 and 195-pound sophomore has now caught a TD pass in two of three games. 
• Virginia Tech:  After Saturday’s performance, I am going to assume that Hendon ?Hooker will start at quarterback next week against Boston College.  I must admit that I did not think RB Khalil Herbert would get so much utilization, especially after Raheem Blackshear was granted immediate eligibility.  After three games, Herbert is averaging 150.0 rushing yards and 1.7 TDs per game.  TE James Mitchell has caught a TD pass in each of the Hokies’ first three games.
• North Carolina:  RB Javonte Williams has scored at least two touchdowns in each of the Tar Heels’ first three games.  I hope many of you that listened to the podcast took my advice and stuck with Dazz Newsome (7-69-1).      
• Texas:  I believe it’s better to have the IR in the Texas offense, but I prefer to have Joshua Moore right now. Jordan Whittington looked good against Oklahoma (11-10-65-0), but I am not sure how things will play out once Jake Smith is 100%.  It would not surprise me to see Whittington keep the starting role, or at the very least, share those snaps.   
• Oklahoma:  RB TJ Pledger led the Sooners in rushing against Texas, carrying the ball 22 times for 131 yards and 2 TDs.  I was a little confused why Marcus Major was getting the majority of snaps in the overtime session.  I am not sure if I missed something in regards to an injury, but Pledger looked good and I was disappointed he only got one carry in the four OT periods combined.  If you listened to the podcast, you would understand that Rattler’s benching might have done him some good.  I am glad he was bench, and at the same time, glad his fantasy owners didn’t suffer disappointment.  TE Austin Stogner has caught at least 5 passes in each of the last three games and seems to be the go-to target in the red zone.
• Missouri:  QB Connor Bazelak probably wasn’t a hot waiver wire name last week, but something tells me that will change this week, maybe because of his 406-yard, 4-TD game against LSU, maybe.
• LSU:  After rushing for 100 yards in last week’s win at Vanderbilt, RB John Emery only had two rushing attempts in the loss at Missouri.  Confusing.  WR Terrace Marshall has caught at least 2 TD passes in each of the Tigers’ first three games.  Freshman TE Arik Gilbert has caught at least 4 passes in each of the team’s first three games and scored in two of them.  QB Myles Brennan has thrown at least 3 TD passes in all three games this year.
• NC State:  TE Cary Angeline has now caught a TD pass in three of the Wolfpack’s first four games.  RB Zonovan Knight has rushed for at lest 90 yards in three of four games, while teammate Ricky Person hasn’t topped the 50-yard mark in either of the team’s last two games.
• Virginia:  After a poor start against NC State, QB Brennan Armstrong left the game after taking a hit, which resulted in a targeting call.  There was so much fantasy potential in that matchup for Armstrong, but it was his backup, Lindell Stone, who threw 3 TD passes in the 38-21 loss.  The Cavaliers play at Wake Forest next week, so hopefully Armstrong will be cleared to play. 
• South Carolina:  The weather affected some teams more than others on Saturday.  The Gamecocks were one of the teams who played in the elements and used their ground game and defense to escape the weekend.  Unfortunately, WR Shi Smith only caught four passes for 46 yards.
• Duke:  RB Deon Jackson has carried the ball at least 14 times in each of the Blue Devils’ first five games. 
• Syracuse:  WR Taj Harris has now caught a TD pass in three consecutive games.  Supposedly, QB Tommy DeVito has been lost for the season due to a leg injury suffered in the loss, which means Rex Culpepper is likely to take over as the starter.  It would not surprise me to see some of the younger quarterbacks on the roster get some playing time.
• Tennessee:  WR Josh Palmer has topped the 70-yard receiving mark in each of the Vols’ first three games.  He has also scored a TD in two of those three games. 
• Georgia:  RB Zamir White has scored a rushing TD in each of the Bulldogs’ first three games.  It seems as if WR Kearis Jackson will be a consistent fantasy option in 2020, and a better one than George Pickens, at least from what we have seen through three games.
• BYU:  In Saturday’s win over UTSA, WR Gunner Romney failed to reach the 100-yard mark for the first time this season.  He finished with 4 catches for 80 yards.  RB Tyler Allgeier had his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, and he has now scored in three of four games.  QB Zach Wilson has accounted for 3 or more TDs in three consecutive games and has 6 rushing TDs in four games.   
• Texas Tech:  Alan Bowman got the start at quarterback against Iowa State, but he was eventually replaced by Henry Colombi.  For those of you that picked up Colombi off the waiver wire last week, hold onto him, because HC Matt Wells suggested that a change could be coming.  For those of you still on Bowman, I would suggest preparing a Plan B if you have not already done so.  The Red Raiders run game doesn’t look any better, either, as SaRodorick Thompson and Xavier White combined for 35 rushing yards against ISU.  WR KeSean Carter did not play and TJ Vasher did not catch a pass on Saturday.     
• Iowa State:  QB Brock Purdy showed signs of life, throwing for 302 yards and 2 TDs in the Cyclones’ 31-15 win over Texas Tech.  WR Xavier Hutchinson seems like he’ll stick as Purdy’s top receiver, as he caught 9 passes for 77 yards against the Red Raiders. 
• Arkansas:  WR Treylon Burks hasn’t played in the last two games, but it’s hard to ignore WR De’Vion Warren’s numbers during that time.  In those two games, Warren caught 9 passes for 195 yards and 3 TDs.  Now, we need to see how things play out once Burks returns.  Sophomore RB Trelon Smith played well in Rakeem Boyd’s absence, as he totaled 159 yards (81 rushing, 78 receiving) and scored a TD in the Razorbacks’ 30-28 loss at Auburn.
• Auburn:  WR Anthony Schwartz has caught at least 8 passes in the each of the Tigers’ last two games and I am sold on him being a weekly fantasy option.  In last week’s piece, I mentioned that I wanted to see RB Tank Bigsby against another team besides Georgia.  Well, we got that on Saturday, and Bigsby did not disappoint, running for 146 yards on 20 carries against the Arkansas defense.   
• Pitt:  QB Kenny Pickett has attempted at least 36 passes in each of the Panthers last four games and he has scored at least one rushing TD in four of five games this year. 
• Boston College:  RB David Bailey may have just started his last game for many fantasy owners, at least until there are signs of improvement.  On the season, Bailey has carried the ball 48 times for 148 yards, averaging 37.0 yards per game.
• Miami:  I wouldn’t worry about the Canes’ performance against Clemson.  I am not worried about them against any other ACC defense. 
• Alabama:  RB Najee Harris has scored 10 TDs in three games. 
• Mississippi:  QB Matt Corral has thrown for at least 300 yards and rushed for at least 40 yards in each of the Rebels’ first three games.  RB Jerrion Ealy has scored a rushing TD in all three games this year.  It doesn’t seem as if WR Jonathan Mingo will be a consistent option in the passing game.  Saturday night against Alabama, Mingo was only targeted three times by QB Matt Corral. 
• Florida State:  Finally, signs of life from the Florida State offense, particularly WR Tamorrion Terry, who caught 9 passes for 146 yards and a TD against Notre Dame.
• Notre Dame:  I did not think Florida State was going to hang around with the Irish, which is why I wasn’t too high on Kyren Williams going into Week 6.  Given the schedule ahead, he should get a lot of work as the feature back.  Kevin Austin made his return, so hopefully he’ll play a majority of the snaps in the Irish’s next game.  Going into the game, it was reported that Austin would be on a snap count.
• Mississippi State:  Three eye-popping numbers from the Bulldogs’ 24-2 loss at Kentucky.  First, a Leach defense outscored a Leach offense 2-0.  Second, the MSU QBs threw zero touchdowns and 6 INTs.  Third, the offense had a player catch 15 passes (Kylin Hill) and still could not score any points.  State scored 5 TDs in the opener at LSU and have only scored 2 TDs in their last two games combined.  I am not sure what the short-term or long-term plan might be at quarterback, but if you have KJ Costello, I am hoping you’ve made a move for Will Rogers, or considering it this week.